title: The radial forearm flap: reconstructive applications and donor-site defects in 35 consecutive patients.
abstract: Thirty-five consecutive patients treated with the radial forearm flap were reviewed. This flap was used in head and neck reconstruction in 25 patients, soft-tissue cover of an extremity in 9 patients, and as a new technique for penile reconstruction in 1 patient. Osteocutaneous flaps were used for mandibular reconstruction in 13 patients. In 6 patients innervated flaps were used to provide sensation on the dorsum of the hand or on the weight-bearing surface of the foot. There was only one total flap failure and no partial failures. Recipient-site complications were few, with prompt healing and very acceptable appearance. Donor-site complications included partial loss of the skin graft with tendon exposure in 10 patients (33 percent), an unsatisfactory appearance in 5 patients (17 percent), and one case of radial fracture (8 percent). On functional testing, there was no significant loss of strength or joint mobility in the donor extremity in 19/20 patients. The authors recommend measures to reduce donor-site morbidity and conclude that, with an acceptable donor site, this flap is valuable in a variety of reconstructive applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Toronto General Hospital.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Manktelow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005542:Forearm; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*